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17 years ago 0 +0 / -0 2462

I think smoking was the way I avoided life. I avoided dealing with issues. I avoided housework. I avoided exercise. I avoided getting out and doing things. Instead, I smoked. For 40 years. Look at that word. A-void. When I quit smoking, there was A-void. For the longest time. Because without smoking, I had to do things to fill up that time. And I was at a loss for a while. Now, 2 1/2 years into this, I am trying to make up for lost time. I am doing all of the things I avoided. At almost 58, I am working full time, volunteering, exercising, traveling and getting my Master's degree. I am still me. But a better me, I think. You are still you. And as Martha said, what an incredible journey. A few bumps here and there but a lot of wows! Why do I still come to SSC? Two reasons: I really like to help folks and I really like the folks here. Rusty :) [B]My Milage:[/B] [B]My Quit Date: [/B]12/13/2004 [B]Smoke-Free Days:[/B] 914 [B]Cigarettes Not Smoked:[/B] 25,592 [B]Amount Saved:[/B] $3,199.00 [B]Life Gained:[/B] [B]Days:[/B] 128 [B]Hrs:[/B] 22 [B]Mins:[/B] 42 [B]Seconds:[/B] 52

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$58,604.00

Amount Saved
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Days: 705 Hours: 3

Minutes: 22 Seconds: 0

Life Gained
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5635

Smoke Free Days
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225,400

Cigarettes Not Smoked

17 years ago 0 +0 / -0 1151

Hi Audrey, What a long, strange trip it's been, huh?! I agree, chicknoodle's response was spot on. We are just complicated and complex creatures and I don't think any of us fully realized what we were doing to ourselves when we smoked. It definitely is a process. The physical "stuff" involved with quitting really is kind of the superficial layer. I think the real work gets done when you get to the deeper "stuff" that you find yourself in now and it can take a while. For me, the new and odd person I felt myself becoming was still more authentic to me than who I was as a smoker. As a small example, when I was a kid I LOVED pink - absolutely everything I owned was pink. By 14 I hated it, wanted nothing to do with it and that's about the time I started smoking. About 6 months into my quit I found myself drawn to pink things again and I don't have an aversion to it anymore. There are a LOT of other things too but I'm already writing a novel here. As for why the longtimers still hang out here? I wish I knew! I didn't understand it when I was early in my quit either and I certainly never expected to be one of "them". Ha ha, jokes on me! I guess it is just to share what we've learned and show people its possible. I like the new me much more than stinky, smoker me. Embrace your inner bike cop! [B]My Milage:[/B] [B]My Quit Date: [/B]8/5/2004 [B]Smoke-Free Days:[/B] 1044 [B]Cigarettes Not Smoked:[/B] 20,880 [B]Amount Saved:[/B] $4,698.00 [B]Life Gained:[/B] [B]Days:[/B] 79 [B]Hrs:[/B] 17 [B]Mins:[/B] 28 [B]Seconds:[/B] 32

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$39,344.50

Amount Saved
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Days: 687 Hours: 10

Minutes: 16 Seconds: 7

Life Gained
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6053

Smoke Free Days
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78,689

Cigarettes Not Smoked

17 years ago 0 +0 / -0 1698

Hi Audrey Have you been in deep thought about all this.No identity crises your the same person you were before the only difference is your nicotene free.Your mind is clearer,your sharper,your body is recovering and it,s kind of scary but kind of fun too if you choose to play with it a bit. ;p [B]My Milage:[/B] [B]My Quit Date: [/B]3/20/2007 [B]Smoke-Free Days:[/B] 87 [B]Cigarettes Not Smoked:[/B] 1,566 [B]Amount Saved:[/B] $870.00 [B]Life Gained:[/B] [B]Days:[/B] 19 [B]Hrs:[/B] 23 [B]Mins:[/B] 38 [B]Seconds:[/B] 58

17 years ago 0 +0 / -0 911

Thank you all! Let me think about all of this. [B]My Milage:[/B] [B]My Quit Date: [/B]1/16/2007 [B]Smoke-Free Days:[/B] 149 [B]Cigarettes Not Smoked:[/B] 2,980 [B]Amount Saved:[/B] $417.20 [B]Life Gained:[/B] [B]Days:[/B] 14 [B]Hrs:[/B] 14 [B]Mins:[/B] 6 [B]Seconds:[/B] 42

17 years ago 0 +0 / -0 8760

Audrey, Change is scary. It requires adjustment and it takes time. There's no way around it. Just as Chicknoodle said, enjoy the you right now and take some time to think about the who you want to be and how to get there. You can always mold the future! Danielle - Bilingual Support Specialist

17 years ago 0 +0 / -0 911

Yup. It's an identity thing. Amazing how much smoking defines! [B]My Milage:[/B] [B]My Quit Date: [/B]1/16/2007 [B]Smoke-Free Days:[/B] 149 [B]Cigarettes Not Smoked:[/B] 2,980 [B]Amount Saved:[/B] $417.20 [B]Life Gained:[/B] [B]Days:[/B] 14 [B]Hrs:[/B] 13 [B]Mins:[/B] 10 [B]Seconds:[/B] 26

17 years ago 0 +0 / -0 1698

Sorry Audrey you've got me confused ?? Many people have expressed the same feeling that your having about feeling confortable with the new person emerging as a non smoker thats what I was refering to. [B]My Milage:[/B] [B]My Quit Date: [/B]3/20/2007 [B]Smoke-Free Days:[/B] 86 [B]Cigarettes Not Smoked:[/B] 1,548 [B]Amount Saved:[/B] $860.00 [B]Life Gained:[/B] [B]Days:[/B] 19 [B]Hrs:[/B] 17 [B]Mins:[/B] 30 [B]Seconds:[/B] 46

17 years ago 0 +0 / -0 911

Bear, what is the untouchable topic you are speaking of? Is it the moving out of the quit struggle topic? [B]My Milage:[/B] [B]My Quit Date: [/B]1/16/2007 [B]Smoke-Free Days:[/B] 149 [B]Cigarettes Not Smoked:[/B] 2,980 [B]Amount Saved:[/B] $417.20 [B]Life Gained:[/B] [B]Days:[/B] 14 [B]Hrs:[/B] 13 [B]Mins:[/B] 6 [B]Seconds:[/B] 7

17 years ago 0 +0 / -0 1698

Thanks Audrey for bringing this topic to the table.Over the last month there have been a number of people who have been experiencing the same reactions and based on the number of views 25 compared to the number of replys 3 at this point this is a topic that needs a lot more discussion.I like Chicknoodles response but still I will be very annoyed if I have to put up with a gnat, gnats have a nasty habit of biting us in the backside when least expected.I wished I had the answer to this one man would I be a hero here but I get the impression that this is not a particularly easy one to answer ?? [B]My Milage:[/B] [B]My Quit Date: [/B]3/20/2007 [B]Smoke-Free Days:[/B] 86 [B]Cigarettes Not Smoked:[/B] 1,548 [B]Amount Saved:[/B] $860.00 [B]Life Gained:[/B] [B]Days:[/B] 19 [B]Hrs:[/B] 17 [B]Mins:[/B] 24 [B]Seconds:[/B] 40

17 years ago 0 +0 / -0 2534

Great response from Chicknoodle which I can see has helped you much! Many congratulations on 150 days tomorrow - be proud! :) [B]My Milage:[/B] [B]My Quit Date: [/B]5/18/2004 [B]Smoke-Free Days:[/B] 1122 [B]Cigarettes Not Smoked:[/B] 22,440 [B]Amount Saved:[/B] �5,610.00 [B]Life Gained:[/B] [B]Days:[/B] 180 [B]Hrs:[/B] 5 [B]Mins:[/B] 53 [B]Seconds:[/B] 8

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$60,819.00

Amount Saved
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Days: 1261 Hours: 1

Minutes: 0 Seconds: 30

Life Gained
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5529

Smoke Free Days
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121,638

Cigarettes Not Smoked

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